Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari
Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has defended the performance of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, following criticism over the outcome of the recently concluded oil licensing round.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the national oil company said recent media reports attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF) misrepresented the role of NNPC Limited in the licensing process and failed to acknowledge improvements in the company’s production performance.
The company stated that while it welcomes public scrutiny in line with its commitment to transparency and accountability, it was necessary to clarify what it described as inaccurate claims.
NNPC Limited explained that, under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, responsibility for conducting oil licensing rounds and allocating oil blocks rests solely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
According to the statement, “Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the conduct of oil licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks fall squarely within the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). NNPC Limited, since its incorporation, has operated strictly as a commercial entity and holds no regulatory or allocative authority.”
The company also highlighted what it described as sustained growth in crude oil production under the current management.
It said average crude oil production, including condensate, rose from 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) in April 2025 to 1.67 million barrels per day by April 2026.
According to NNPC, the increase of about 80,000 barrels per day represents a six per cent growth and is documented in its publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
NNPC added that gas production also improved during the same period.
The statement noted that average gas production increased from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd in April 2026, representing a five per cent rise.
The company said the growth supports Nigeria’s domestic energy needs and export obligations.
Reaffirming its commitment to openness, NNPC said it would continue to engage stakeholders on issues relating to its operations while protecting its reputation against what it described as false or unsubstantiated claims.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to operating with transparency and will continue to engage openly on matters concerning the Company’s performance and operations. The Company also reserves the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against publication of false or unsubstantiated claims.”
The company further urged stakeholders to verify information before making public statements.
“We encourage industry commentators, analysts, and professional associations to verify information through the appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before publication. This will help ensure that public commentary is factual, balanced, and contributes constructively to informed discourse on the Nigerian energy sector,” the statement added.
